Legislative news:

►  In the Walla Walla U-B -- Proposed prison cuts raise alarm -- The Teamsters Union that represents state prison employees (Local 117) has sounded an alarm over proposed budget cuts that could result in the early release of hundreds of inmates. The House Ways and Means Committee is considering a "temporary" closure of the main institution at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla and the early release of 1,400 to 1,900 inmates statewide.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- State's higher ed system to get $500 million budget cut -- Lisa Brown says the proposed two-year budget would eliminate pay increases for teachers and state workers, and would leave around $850 million in reserve in case the economy gets even worse.

►  From KOMO-TV -- Chopp: I'm still not sold on the tunnel -- The House Speaker says, contrary to reports, he's not softening on the deep bore tunnel idea: "There's unknown cost overruns -- who's going to pay for those? It significantly decreases the freight capacity. There's much less access for the neighborhoods and businesses, much higher costs than other alternatives."

►  At TheNewsTribune.com -- State inmates might start picking up litter along highways -- The Senate transportation budget would authorize the DOT to make the change. Those orange-suited folks you see doing that kind of stuff today are working for the state Department of Ecology. Those are mostly summer, entry-level jobs for young folks.

Local news:

►  From AP -- SPEEA agrees to contract at Boeing in Wichita -- When members rejected Boeing's "best and final offer" for a second time earlier this month, they gave their negotiating team authority to accept the offer if no significant movement was made in further talks with Boeing. In rejecting the offer, the engineers also had refused to authorize a strike.

►  At TheNewsTribune.com -- IAFF's Keven Rojecki launches campaign for Tacoma City Council -- "I value safe neighborhoods and an economic climate where business and working families thrive," Rojecki said. "The citizens of Tacoma have every right to expect efficiency, accountability, and transparency in their government and I'm ready for the challenge."

►  In the News Tribune -- Union carpenters protest wages at two firms -- About 60 carpenters take to the sidewalks of Tacoma to protest Rain City Contractors and Berg Equipment and Scaffolding, saying they are paying less than standard union wage and benefits.

►  In the Daily World -- Rock-bottom demand for lumber -- A new forecast says lumber demand will fall to its lowest point in recorded history, hopefully reaching its “rock bottom” this year.

►  In the Olympian -- Union threatens suit over Thurston County sheriff layoffs -- As commissioners suggest laying off one-third of the command staff, the deputies' union threatens to sue.

►  In the (Aberdeen) Daily World -- City applauds staff concessions -- Aberdeen's mayor and council gives city employees a standing ovation after approving a number of employee concessions.

►  In The Stranger -- Union never? P-I's online future may be union-free -- Take away the nostalgia and emotion that surrounded the death of this city's oldest daily newspaper, and what you had was a large business with a unionized workforce suddenly becoming a much smaller business with a nonunion workforce.

National news:

►  In today's LA Times -- A risky new push for immigration legislation -- Advocates of legalization have crafted a plan that could alienate businesses and key Republicans, including Sen. John McCain. But it is designed to lure a powerful new ally -- organized labor. Under the proposal, millions of undocumented workers would be legalized now, while the number of foreign workers allowed to enter the country would be examined by a new independent commission, and probably reduced.

►  In today's Miami Herald -- Project Labor Agreements can help diversify construction work -- PLAs provide stability on complex projects by setting wages and synchronizing work shifts, schedules and holidays among various groups of workers and contractors. To keep projects moving, they also ban strikes and walkouts and require that labor disputes be resolved through arbitration. PLAs also can improve job opportunities for minorities, females and low-income people who are trying to break into the construction trades.

►  In today's LA Times -- Medical costs for retirees continue to rise, study says -- A couple retiring this year needs $240,000 to cover healthcare expenses. That's a 6.7% increase over last year.

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- House panel OK's paid family leave for federal workers -- They could receive four weeks of paid leave to care for a newborn or adopted child under a bill approved by a U.S. House subcommittee. If enacted, it also would allow federal workers to use up to eight weeks of accrued paid sick time or annual leave following the first four weeks of parental leave.

►  From AP -- Southwest Airlines, flight attendants reach agreement -- The tentative 4-year contract with the Transport Workers Union, includes raises for about 9,800 attendants.